Studies dating back more than 25 years have shown that peppermint (mentha piperita) oil can be beneficial for people with digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. This may be partly due to its antimicrobial and carminative effects.

Peppermint and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome is a bowel disorder with symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation. The cause and cure are unknown, but there are a number of treatments that can help manage the symptoms and may be beneficial for bowel function. Peppermint is one of these treatments.

Four weeks treatment with enteric coated peppermint oil significantly reduced IBS symptoms.

1. Capello G, Spezzaferro M, Grossi L, Manzoli L, Marzio L. Peppermint oil (Mintoil) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a prospective double blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. Dig Liver Dis. 2007;39(6):530-536.  [Read abstract]

A psychiatrist reported that a number of his patients exhibited IBS symptoms. He recommended they try peppermint oil after breakfast and dinner and more than half found that their symptoms improved.

2. Sagduyu K. Peppermint oil for irritable bowel syndrome. Psychosomatics. 2002;43(6):508-509. [Read full article]

A patient with IBS was found to have significant small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.  They were prescribed 0.2mL of enteric coated peppermint oil three times daily for 20 days and the result was much improved bowel function and reduction of abdominal pain.

3. Logan AC, Beaulne TM. The treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth with enteric-coated peppermint oil: a case report. Altern Med Rev. 2002;7(5):410-417. [Read full article]

A study found that 0.2mL enteric coated peppermint oil three times a day relieved IBS symptoms. They observed however that if the capsules were taken during a meal, heartburn could occur.

4. Rees WD, Evans BK, Rhodes J. Treating irritable bowel syndrome with peppermint oil. Br Med J. 1979;2(6194):835-836. [Read full article]

Fermented wheat germ extract, also known as MSC or under the brand name Avemar, is showing promising results in human trials for people with cancer. It is believed to have an anti-metastatic effect, enhances the effect of 5-fluorouracil, may enhance the effect of tamoxifen, and also has a strong antioxidant effect. Safety studies have observed no evidence of side effects from the treatment (read abstract).

Avemar is available over the counter in Hungary. For more information visit http://www.avemar.com

Reducing side effects from conventional therapies

A human clinical trial involving 22 children with solid tumours found that Avemar taken concurrently during chemotherapy resulted in significantly less chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia. The oral dose used was 6g/m2 taken twice a day.

1. Garami M, Schuler D, Babosa M, Borgulya G, Hauser P, Muller J, Paksy A, Szabo E, Hidvegi M, Fekete G. Fermented wheat germ extract reduces chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in pediatric cancer patients. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2004;26:631-635. [Read full article]

A human clinical trial in 55 adults with advanced head and neck tumours found that 9g Avemar per day for 2 months plus standard therapy resulted in lower oxidative stress levels and a better quality of life than standard therapy alone.

2. Sukkar SG, Cella F, Rovera GM, Nichelatti M, Ragni G, Chiavenna G, Giannoni A, Ronzani G, Ferrari C. A multicentric prospective open trial on the quality of life and oxidative stress in patients affected by head and neck cancer treated with a new benzoquinone-rich product derived from fermented wheat germ (Avemar). Mediterr J Nutr Metab. 2008. [Read full article]

Improving survival from colorectal cancer

A human clinical trial involving 170 colorectal cancer patients found that those taking 9g Avemar daily plus standard anticancer therapies survived longer and had fewer cancer progression events than those using only standard therapies. This trial was not randomised: patients chose whether they wanted to try Avemar.

1. Jakab F, Shoenfeld Y, Balogh A, Nichelatti M, Hoffmann A, Kahan Z, Lapis K, Mayer A, Sapy P, Szentpetery F, Telekes A, Thurzo L, Vagvolgyi A, Hidvegi M. A medical nutriment has supportive value in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer. 2003;89:465-469. [Read full article]

Resveratrol is a polyphenol found in the skin of red grapes. It has been shown to have some anticancer effects in vitro and in animal models and there is hope it may be useful in humans too.

Human Clinical Trials

A Phase 1 study has recently been published in 40 healthy volunteers. There were no serious adverse events at oral doses up to 5g. In vitro studies suggest that concentrations above 5umol/L are necessary to acheive chemopreventive effects, but this concentration was not observed in plasma after 5g doses. The study indicates resveratrol has low oral bioavailability in humans .

1. Boocock DJ et al. Phase I dose escalation pharmacokinetic study in healthy volunteers of resveratrol, a potential cancer chemopreventive agent. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007;16(6):1246-1252. [Read full article]

An earlier pilot study also found low bioavailability of resveratrol. It appears to be rapidly metabolised to sulfate and glucoronide conjugates. Whether these metabolites can be converted back to resveratrol in the body or whether they share the anticancer effects is still under investigation.

2. Walle T et al. High absorption but very low bioavailability of oral resveratrol in humans. Drug Metab Dispos. 2004;32(12):1377-1382. [Read full article]

Review of Anti-cancer Effects

1. Athar M et al. Resveratrol: a review of preclinical studies for human cancer prevention. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2007;224(3):274-283. [Read full article]

Introducing Aromatherapy

These two articles provide a brief summary about what aromatherapy involves and how it can be used, particularly by nurses but also applies to anyone interested in providing aromatherapy services.

1. Perez C. Clinical aromatherapy part 1: an introduction into nursing practice. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2003;7(5):595-596. [Read full article]

2. Lee, CO. Clinical aromatherapy part 2: safe guidelines for integration into clinical practice. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2003;7(5):597-598. [Read full article]

Precautions with Aromatherapy: Contact Dermatitis

Aromatherapists and massage therapists using aromatherapy products need to take precautions to prevent contact dermatitis. Repeated contact with concentrated essential oils may cause skin sensitisation.

1. Trattner A, David M, Lazarov A. Occupational contact dermatitis due to essential oils. Contact Dermatitis. 2008;58(5):282-284. [Read abstract]

2. Crawford GH, Katz KA, Ellis E, James WD. Use of aromatherapy products and increased risk of hand dermatitis in massage therapists. Arch Dermatol. 2004;140(8):991-996. [Read full article]

I’ve recently come across a couple of interesting articles about the benefits of massage for people with chronic pain and cancer. These articles show a tendency for massage to reduce pain, stress and anxiety.

Massage for Chronic Non-Malignant Pain

1. Seers K, Crichton N, Martin J, Coulson K, Carroll D. A randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of a single session of nurse administered massage for short term relief of chronic non-malignant pain. BMC Nurs. 2008;7(1):10. [Read full article]

2. Tsao JC. Effectiveness of Massage Therapy for Chronic, Non-malignant Pain: A Review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2007;4(2):165-79. [Read full article]

Massage for Cancer Patients

1. Sagar SM, Dryden T, Wong RK. Massage therapy for cancer patients: a reciprocal relationship between body and mind. Curr Oncol. 2007;14(2):45-56. [Read full article]

2. Stephenson NL, Swanson M, Dalton J, Keefe FJ, Engelke M. Partner-delivered reflexology: effects on cancer pain and anxiety. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2007;34(1):127-32. [Read full article]

3. Corbin L. Safety and efficacy of massage therapy for patients with cancer. Cancer Control. 2005;12(3):158-164.  [Read full article]

4. Gecsedi RA. Massage therapy for patients with cancer. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2002;6(1):52-54. [Read full article] (Highly recommended reading!)